Nicholls could get money for new cooking school

Chef George Kaslow, assistant professor of culinary arts at Nicholls State University, conducts a class Tuesday afternoon on the campus.

Abby Tabor/Staff

Kathrine SchmidtStaff Writer

Published: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 11:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 11:27 a.m.

HOUMA — Nicholls State University could get money for a new cooking-school building this year, local lawmakers said Tuesday.

Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Labadieville, said the Houma-Thibodaux delegation expects Nicholls to receive $6.5 million for the John Folse Culinary Institute as part of the state’s budget for new projects.

About 100 guests of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce gathered at the Plantation Inn to hear from lawmakers who represent Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, including Harrison, Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, and Sen. Norby Chabert, D-Houma.

Their topic: issues on tap for the legislative session that runs March 29 through June 21.

While the state’s education and health-care systems have been hit hard with three rounds of budget cuts, Dove said area programs are still likely to benefit from money for new projects.

The fate of the culinary-school money, as well as $15 million for the local Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane-protection system, depends on a $350 million measure for new projects around the state, Dove said.

“I anticipate its passing,” Dove said.

Nicholls is conducting its own $4 million fundraising campaign to supplement the taxpayer help for the cooking school.

Quarters inside the cooking-school buildings have become so cramped that the university is renting kitchen space at the nearby Carmel Inn, Nicholls President Stephen Hulbert said after the presentation. The program expects an enrollment of about 400 students next year.

If the university gets the money this year, the building could be ready within two years, Hulbert said.

He has seen the school’s reputation grow since his arrival in 2003, with graduates serving in restaurants and hotels as far away as Asia and Europe. The program’s chefs, Hulbert said, are “highly prized.”

Nothing is certain with an expected state deficit of about $2 billion, Dove said. But he plans to encourage state officials to sell bonds to raise $1.2 million, repaying the debt with money Louisiana received in 2007 from a settlement with tobacco companies. The money can be used to help pay for coastal-restoration projects such as rebuilding barrier islands, said Dove, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.

Dove showed attendees a map dotted with coastal projects in progress in the region.

“We have not forgotten our barrier islands,” he said.

In addition, Harrison said he aims to launch a new economic-development effort to survey businesses about how the state can help them succeed and assess long-term employee needs on a regional basis.

He said he’s tired of seeing in-state business tax dollars go to recruiting out-of-state companies that could be future competition. Harrison would also like the state Economic Development Department to more-fully assess the careers that will be in greatest demand in each region around the state.

Staff Writer Kathrine Schmidt can be reached at 857-2204 or kathrine.schmidt@houmatoday.com.

<p>HOUMA — Nicholls State University could get money for a new cooking-school building this year, local lawmakers said Tuesday.</p><p>Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Labadieville, said the Houma-Thibodaux delegation expects Nicholls to receive $6.5 million for the John Folse Culinary Institute as part of the state's budget for new projects.</p><p>About 100 guests of the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce gathered at the Plantation Inn to hear from lawmakers who represent Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, including Harrison, Rep. Gordon Dove, R-Houma, and Sen. Norby Chabert, D-Houma.</p><p>Their topic: issues on tap for the legislative session that runs March 29 through June 21.</p><p>While the state's education and health-care systems have been hit hard with three rounds of budget cuts, Dove said area programs are still likely to benefit from money for new projects.</p><p>The fate of the culinary-school money, as well as $15 million for the local Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane-protection system, depends on a $350 million measure for new projects around the state, Dove said.</p><p>“I anticipate its passing,” Dove said.</p><p>Nicholls is conducting its own $4 million fundraising campaign to supplement the taxpayer help for the cooking school.</p><p>Quarters inside the cooking-school buildings have become so cramped that the university is renting kitchen space at the nearby Carmel Inn, Nicholls President Stephen Hulbert said after the presentation. The program expects an enrollment of about 400 students next year.</p><p>If the university gets the money this year, the building could be ready within two years, Hulbert said.</p><p>He has seen the school's reputation grow since his arrival in 2003, with graduates serving in restaurants and hotels as far away as Asia and Europe. The program's chefs, Hulbert said, are “highly prized.”</p><p>Nothing is certain with an expected state deficit of about $2 billion, Dove said. But he plans to encourage state officials to sell bonds to raise $1.2 million, repaying the debt with money Louisiana received in 2007 from a settlement with tobacco companies. The money can be used to help pay for coastal-restoration projects such as rebuilding barrier islands, said Dove, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.</p><p>Dove showed attendees a map dotted with coastal projects in progress in the region.</p><p>“We have not forgotten our barrier islands,” he said.</p><p>In addition, Harrison said he aims to launch a new economic-development effort to survey businesses about how the state can help them succeed and assess long-term employee needs on a regional basis.</p><p>He said he's tired of seeing in-state business tax dollars go to recruiting out-of-state companies that could be future competition. Harrison would also like the state Economic Development Department to more-fully assess the careers that will be in greatest demand in each region around the state.</p><p>Staff Writer Kathrine Schmidt can be reached at 857-2204 or kathrine.schmidt@houmatoday.com.</p>